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Message from the Chairman, Kairos South
Africa
It
has been ten years since the first weekend was started in Pollsmoor Prison,
under guidance of volunteers from Kairos International in America.
Today,
some of these original volunteers are still active in the ministry,
alongside approximately 550 unpaid Christian volunteers from all races and
denominations in South Africa. This
is evidence that God not only changes lives of those inside prison walls,
but also changes the lives of those that extend His love and grace to the
incarcerated and their families.
Our volunteers are no better than any other person.
We have seen His forgiveness and grace in our own struggles with our
human condition, we are dependent on His mercy and the guidance of His Holy
Spirit on a daily basis, and we serve Him as wounded healers.
When we witness how the love of Christ brings forgiveness, healing and peace
to persons within the prison environment, how the love of Christ sets them
free to become leaders of lasting peace, or productive citizens upon
release, we cannot not be affected.
We simply are blessed to witness how God delivers on His promise of
restoration, both to us and the prisoners. As written in Isaiah 49:8……
This is what the Lord says:
“In
the time of my favour (Kairos time)
I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep
you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land
and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, ‘Come
out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’
We also thank God for the partnership that is
growing with the department of Correctional Services and their commitment to
create an environment that would allow for the effective involvement of the
community in the rehabilitation of the offenders, as stated in their White
Paper.
Some highlights for 2009 has been the powerful witness of prisoners at the
closings of weekends, the absolute dedication of volunteers and leaders, and
the fact that God has opened the doors of two more prisons for us;
·
Kroonstad Ladies
Prison in the Freestate, something that we have prayed about for a long
time. The first weekend is
planned for early November
·
Johannesburg Mens
Prison in Gauteng, after having done 13 weekends in the Ladies Prison.
The first weekend is planned for late in November.
We
encourage you to contact us through the website contacts section, should you
be interested to work with us as a volunteer, whether it is as part of a
team, for financial support, or simply praying for prisoners or teams.
May you experience the love of God where you are, right now.
Andre Potgieter
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